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Spanish police storm Catalan government buildings to stop independence referendum Spanish police storm Catalan government buildings to stop independence referendum
(35 minutes later)
Spanish national police have stormed ministries and buildings belonging to Catalonia's regional government to put a stop to the region's independence referendum.Spanish national police have stormed ministries and buildings belonging to Catalonia's regional government to put a stop to the region's independence referendum.
The Guardia Civil, which acts with the authority of Madrid's interior ministry, is searching for evidence regarding the planned 1 October referendum on Catalan independence, which Spain's Constitutional Court has declared illegal.The Guardia Civil, which acts with the authority of Madrid's interior ministry, is searching for evidence regarding the planned 1 October referendum on Catalan independence, which Spain's Constitutional Court has declared illegal.
In the early hours of the morning armed officers arrived at various Catalan ministries, including the economy department, foreign affairs department, and social affairs department, Spanish media reports.In the early hours of the morning armed officers arrived at various Catalan ministries, including the economy department, foreign affairs department, and social affairs department, Spanish media reports.
A senior aide to Catalonia's deputy prime minister, identified in the Spanish media as Josep Maria Jové, is also said to have been arrested – while mayors of Catalan towns who back the referendum are still being questioned by state prosecutors. At least twelve Catalan officials have been arrested, Spanish media reports, including the chief aide to Catalonia's deputy prime minister, Josep Maria Jové. The arrests come as the mayors of Catalan towns who back the referendum were yesterday questioned by state prosecutors.
On Tuesday police continued their searches for election material including ballot boxes, voting papers and campaign leaflets - raiding courier companies in the process. Pro-independence crowds have formed outside the regional ministries in support of the provincial government and in protest against the raids and searches.
Catalonia’s elected autonomous regional government, the Generalitat, had called the referendum after pro-independence parties were able to form an administration following elections in 2015 . Catalonia’s elected autonomous regional government, the Generalitat, had called the referendum after pro-independence parties were able to form an administration following elections in 2015.
The president of the province's national assembly, Jordi Sànchez, on Wednesday morning called for "peaceful resistance" to the police operation.
“The time has come. We resist peacefully. We come out to defend our institutions with non-violence,” he said in a post on social media.
On Tuesday police searched for election material including ballot boxes, voting papers and campaign leaflets - raiding private courier companies in the process.
The Spanish national assembly on Wednesday rejected a motion to support the Spanish government's heavy-handed response to the the referendum by 166 votes against to 158 in favor, after the centre-left opposition party PSOE teamed up with left-wingers Podemos and smaller separatist parties in the parliament.  
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